Electric-switch-construction.



C. D. PLATT.

ELECTRIC swncu CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICFHON FILED lULY 2|. 19H.

Patented Mar. 241, 1918.

@z/uimw CLARENCE D. PLATT, OF BRIDGEPQRT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-SWITQH CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed July 21,1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cranmer: I). Pna'cr, a. citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Electric-Switch Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to a, switch of the inclosed type. This invention aims chiefly at improving certain features of construction set forth and claimed in my copending application #152,256, filed March 3rd, 1917.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple and efi'ective means for holding the operatinghandle in place, which means may also act as a stop to limit the throw of said handle. I also in the present case provide means for automatically locking the switch in the open position while the switch box is open, thereby making it possible for any one to insert or remove w jury. This automatic lockin preferably construct in sue while its normal effect 13 to lock the switch fuses, for example, without danger of inmeans I also a way that handle in the open position, it may, never theless, be released so that the switch may be tested while the box is open. It requires, however, a special manual act to release said handle from the open position.

. These and other advantages will be apparent to the mechanic skilled in the art,

- from a reading of the following description,

carries all the conducting parts of the switch except the movable switch member. 1112 are stationary contacts suitably secured to the base and to which the incoming circuit .wires are attached by any suitable means,

such as binding screws. 13-1 i are stationmy contacts carried by the base which respectively are designed to be connected by the switch blades 29-30 with contact lates 11-12. The contacts 13 and 14 are e ectrically connected with suitable sockets 17-18 designed to receive fuse plugs. The putgo- Specification oftlttters Patent.

Patented Mar 3.3, 1918,

Serial No. 181,915?

ing terminal pieces from the fuse plug sockets are indicated respectively at 1920, and the same may be provided with binding posts or screws, as shown, for the outgoing circuit wires. 28 is an insulating cross bar which carries the switch contacts 29 and 30 which are preferably laminated and arch shaped, as in my revious application. 31-32 are springs which carry the cross bar 528 and which normally tend to move the bar in a direction to open the circuit from 11 to 13 and from 12 to 14.

The operating means for the switch comprises an operating handle 34 arranged at the side of the box and connected to a shaft 35 which extends through the sides of the box and is provided with an offset crank or cam portion 36 which has a sliding movement upon a wear plate 40 carried by the cross bar -28.

The shape of the crank 36 is such that the shaft may be easily passed through the bear' ing openings in the opposite sides of the box lvlvlheln the parts are assembled or disassem- 25 is a box or receptacle for the switch and 26 is a cover therefor, hin ed at one end of the box. 38 is an ofi'set s lloulder on the edge of the cover which is arranged to engage the handle when the box cover is being opened so as to throw the handle in the switch opening direction, thus guaranteeing the opening of the circuit when the box is opened.

The parts thus far briefly described are substantially similar to the corresponding parts shown and described in my aforesaid copending application, and obviously further detail description is unnecessary. Furthermore, it should be understood. that I contemplate that the switch mechanism per cc and the associated parts are capable of a wide range of modification, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the present case I provide a means which operates as a. combined sto and retainer for hhlding the handle an shaft in the operative position. This device comprises a strap 1 having laterally projecting ofisets 2-2 at opposite ends, which are of such length as to afford suitable clearance between the side of the box and the strap 1 for the handle 34, see Fig. 1. This strap may be connected to the side of the box in any suitable manner and when secured in place serves alone to hold the shaft 35 in its operative position in the box irrespective of the position of the handle 34:. iThc olfsets ':l2 of the strap not only serve to give to thezstrap the proper spacing, but are so positioned as to act as limiting stops to check the swinging movement of the handle in the on and 0H switch position.

3 is the nose of an automatic latch. This nose projects outwardly through an openin in the side of the box, the inner end of said nose haviiig a suitable spring support 4 tending normally to project the latch nose outwardly. The spring support a may be secured to the inside of the box by any suitable means such as a rivet or screw 5. The nose 3 is provided at one edge with an abrupt face and is so positioned as to engage and hold the handle 34 in the off osition. The opposite edge of the nose is beveled so that the handle may swing from the on to the tally depressing the nose by engagement with thebeveled edge thereof. The upper side of the latch nose is beveled or inclined in any suitable way so that when the cover is shut down, a flange at the edge of the cover will engage said incline and press back the latch nose as shown in Fig. 3, thus leaving at such a time the handle free to be moved in either direction.

Operation: When the box cover 26 is opened it first frees the latch nose so that it projects into the handle engaging and holding position. The continued opening movement of the box cover automatically swings the handle from the on position toward the oil position and until the handle can be moved by the pressure of the springs 31-32 to the full ofi position. This movement of the handle normally depresses the latch nose 3 until the handle passes the latch nose whereupon the latter springs out again into the handle engaging position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein it will be held so long as the box is open, although even at such a time an expert could release the handlelor the! purpose of closing the switch and testing the same, or the circuit, by simply inserting a suitable tool, such as a screw-driver under the latch so as to force it back. When the cover is again closed it depresses the latch and leaves the handle free to be moved on f or off as before stated.

I claim:

1. In a switch construction, an insulating base, contacts carried thereb a movable switch element for closing a circuit through said contacts, a boxhavlng a cover for inclosing said parts, an operatmg means for said movable switch element comprising a shaft passing through openings in the opposite sides of the box and havinghan 0 set portion for-cooperation with e movable switch element, a handle at one end of said shaft arranged externally oi the box and at one side thereof, said handln includ ing a crank arm connected with the end of said shaft, means carried by the box including a strap overstanding said crank arm in its several positions for holdingsshaft against disengagement from SilluUOX, and means for latching the crank arm in the off position, said means projecting into the space between the strap and the side of the box.

2. In a switch construction, an insulating base, contacts carried thereby, a movable switch element for closing a circuit through said contacts, a box having a cover for inclosing said parts, an operating means for said movable switch element comprising a shaft passing through openings in the op posite sides of the box and having an offset portion for coiiperation with the movable switch element, a handle at one end of said shaft arranged externally of the box and at one side thereof, said handle including a. crank arm connected with the end of said shaft, means carried by the box including a strap overstanding said crank arm in its several against isengagement from said box, de-

ressible means for latching the crank arm in the off position, said means projecting into the space between the strap and the side of the box, and disposed in the path of movement of said crank arm so as to be depressed thereby when the same is moved from the on to the ofibposition.

3. In a switch construction, an insulating base, contacts carried thereby, a movable switch element for closing a circuit through said contacts, a box for inclosing said parts, said box havin a movable cover, an operating means or said movable switch element comprising a shaft passing through openings in the opposite s des of the box and having an offset portion for cooperation with the movable switch element, a handle at one end of said shaft arranged externally of the box and at one side thereof, said" handle including a crank arm connectedwith the end of said shaft, means carried by the box including a strap overstanding said crank arm in its several positions for holding said shaft against disenga ement from said box, depressible means %or latching the crank arm in the 0R position, said means projecting into the space between the stra and the side of the box, and disposed I in t e path of movement of said crank arm so as to be depressed thereb when thevsame is moved from the on to the ofi position, said latch being depreible by said box cover when the latter is closed.

4. In combination, a, switch, a box inclosing said switch, a shaft for operatin the switch journaled in the boxindepen entl ositions for holding said shaft' of the switch and having an integral angularly bent end portion disposed outside the box and forming a handle by which the switch can be operated, and a strap overlying the angularly bent handle. portion of the shaft to form a housing for said handle limiting the outward shifting movement of the shaft, said strap having angularly bent end portions by which it is attached to the box, and said angularly directed end portions of the strap forming stops for limiting the rocking movement of the'handle in both directions, said shaft being bodily removable from said box without disassembling said switch when said strap is removed.

5. In a switch construction, switch mechanism including a movable switch member, a box for said parts including a movable cover, an operating device for the movable switch clement including a handle located externally of said box, means for locking said handle in the position in which the switch is open when the box cover is open, said locking means being disposed in the path of movement of the cover and moved to the non locking position by the closin of said cover, and a flange on the outside 0 the cover dis posed in position to engage the externally located handle, and to shift such handle to the ofi position in the opening movement of the cover, the locking means a oresaid being depressible by the handle in the movement of said handle to the off position on the opening of the cover.

6. In combination, a switch, a. box inclosing said switch, a shaft for operating the switch journaled in the boxand having an integral angularly bent end portion dis osed outside the box and forming a handle by which the switch can be operated, a-strap overlying the angularly bent handle portion of the shaft to form a housing for said han-v dle limiting the outward shifting movement of the shaft, said strap having angularly bent end portions by which it is attached to the box, and said angularly bent end portions of the strap forming stops for limiting the rocking movement of the handle in both directions, and an automatic stop projecting into the housing provided by the strap to engage the angularly bent handle at aoint intermediate the stops at the ends 0 the strap, said handle being held to move in the stop operating plane by said strap.

7. In combination, a switch including a movable switch element, a box inclosing saidswitch, an operating shaft journaled in the side of the box and havin an operating connection with the movab e switch element, said operating shaft having. an integral angularly bent end portion outside of the box providing an operating handle, a strap secured to the side of the box having a portion spaced away from the side of the box and entirely overstanding the angularly bent end portion of the shaft to thereby form a housing covering the bent end of the shaft and preventing disengagement of said shaft from the 'box wall in which it is journaled, a depressible stop for the handle projecting into the housing thus provided for the handle end of the shaft and arranged to be depressed by the handle in the movement of.

said handle in one direction, said box having a movable cover and said cover engaging the depressible stop in the closed position of the cover to hold said stop retracted out of the path of movement of the handle when the cover is closed.

8. In combination, a. box havin a. movable nover, a switch in the box inclu mg amovzlble switch element, a switch operating handle disposed externally of the box a $00 for lockin the switch handle in e o position w en the cover is open, a member on the cover for retracting said step; when the cover is closed to thereby enab e free operation of the handle when said cover is closed, means for automatically projecting the stop into holding position as the cover is opened and means on the cover for throwing the handle to the off position as the cover is opcne CLARENCE D. PLATT. 

